Fastening device



Sept. 30, 1930. v G. w. BLAIR ,776,

FASTENING DEVICE med Nov. 27, 1925 Patented Sept 30, 1930 UNITED STATES 1,77ss4s' PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. BLAIR, or MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO MIsHAwAKA RUBBER.

arm WOOLEN MANUFACTURING coMrAnY, or MISHAWAKA, INDIANA, A conrozaa- TIGN OF INDIANA FASTENING DEVICE Application filed. November 27, 1925. 'Serial No. 71,523.

My invention relates to fastening devices of the type wherein series of fastener elements, to be joined together, are interlocked and released by movement of a cam member or slider therealong, and has reference more particularly to a fastening device wherein 'the elements on one of the parts are in the form of loops which may becoils of a spring and the elements on the other part are formed with offset ends which are arranged to engage within the corresponding loops of the fastening elements on the other part, it being understood that the'term loop is used herein in its broader sense to include any element which is approximately or substantially looplike in form.

In fastening devices wherein loop shaped elements are employed, as for example coils of a spring, it is necessary for the opposed series of fastener elements to positively interlock with the loops or coils of the spring. I have accomplished this purpose in the present construction by providing fastener elements which fit between the successive loops or coils and have ofiset ends which internally engage the loops or coils and turn therein and the space between the outer extremities of the adjoining elements is restricted sufficiently to retain the loop elements or coils between the adjoining'elements and prevent withdrawal thereof except through the operation of the slider or cam member. .7

The principal objects of my invention are,

' to provide an improved fastener element for use in connection with loop shaped elements or coils of a spiral spring; to insure a positive interlocking of said elements with the loops or coils; to properly guide the loops or coils betweenthe ad oining elements of the other series; to insure flexibility; and in general to provide an improved fastening device comprisingloop shaped elements or coils of a spring, and which is simple in construction, strong and durable and serves to eflectively connect the parts which are to be joined together. 7

On the draw1ngs,-

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an overshoe' on the edges of the parts which are coils of the spring.

Referring to the drawings, in which l have, for the purpose of illustration, shown my invention as applied to an overshoe, although it is to be understood that it may be used in connection with other articles or in any place where an automatic fastener is desired, the reference numeral 1 indicates an overshoe as a whole which is divided down the front to provide separable side portions 2 and 3 which have the series of fastener elements 4 and 5 respectively on the forward edges thereof, and these elements are adapted to be interlocked and released by movement of a cam member or slider 6 therealong.

The elements 5 are illustrated herein as the coils of a spiral spring but they may be separate elements in the form of loop-s which are mounted in any convenient manner on the edge of the side portion?) of the overshoe or other part which is to be connected spaced-relation, the distance between the elements 4 being sutlicient to permit a coil 5 to that they are maintained in likewise engage between adjoining elements 4 without cramping or binding, In the present case the elements 4 are provided adjacent their rear ends with an elongated opening 7 and a slit 8, forming jaws 9-9 which may be clamped upon the enlarged or beaded edge 10 of the part 2 for mounting these elements. It is to be understood, however, that the mannot form a part of my present invention and 7 these elements may be otherwise mounted if desired.

The elements 4 are alike and each is formed at the outer end, with an offset or In 11 on the underside which extends forwar ly and forms the extreme end of theelement and said In is preferably somewhat semi-circular in orm as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so as tohave an arcuate rear face 12 rising somewhat abruptly from the side of the element 4 and corresponding somewhat to the curvature of and forming a rearwardly facing arcuate shoulder which engages the inner surface of'the loop or coil 5 with which it interlocks, said loop or coil 5 constituting a pair v of spaced side portions with a cross portion at the front to confine the lug 11 therein. The oflt'set end of the member 4 is rounded or inclined at the opposite side from the offset 11, as indicated at 13 and terminates in a rounded edge 14 so that the latter readily engages between adjoining coils or 100 's 5 and the incline 13 serves to guide the 00p in between the adjoining elements 4. At each side the member 4 is rounded or cut away at the edge as indicated at 15 adjacent the point where the coil 5 engages therewith s6 as to permit a rollin actionof the element 4 against the coil an thereby facilitate lateral flexing of the fastener device without binding or crampin The outer end 0% the member 4 may be conveniently formed b a stamping or punching operation which s ifts the portion 11 of the elementsidewise and forms the offset,

and at the same time produces a somewhat corresponding recess 16 at the opposite side.

-This recess,being arcuate or semicircular in form, leaves the teral edges as indicated at 13 which serve to center the loop 5 as it rides thereover and to guide said loop up into place behind'the ofi'set 11 of the next ad oining element 4. r

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 that the offset 14 extends downwardly quite close to the up er extremity of the inclined por tion 13 of between the elements 4 is substantially restrictedat the outer end -with the result that when the coil or loop 5 is engaged between adjoining elements 4 and the latter adjusted to the normal position, the restricted space between the ends of the elements 4 is insnfiicient to permit disengagement of the loop and the fastenin device is thus effectively held against acci ental release and the parts cannot be disconnected except by the operation of the operating member or, slider 6.

, The slider 6 is of substantially the usual form comprising inner and outer plates 17 and 18 respectively with an interposed wedge shaped spreader 18 and inturned portions 19 along their lateral edges forming a pair the next element so that the space' of divergent channels merging into a single channel at the lowerend of the slider, Which channels serve respectivel for the two series of elements 4 andv 5. hen this slider is moved along the elements in the one direction a lateral bending of the two series of elements occurs as indicated in Fig. 2 which opens up the spaces between the outer ends of the a joining elements 4 or 5 and permits the insertion of the outer ends of the elements v4 between the coils or loops 5 and likewise the insertion of the outer extremities of these coils or loops 5 between the adjoining elements 4 all of-which is in accordance with the usual operation of fasteners of this type and Will be readily understood. A similar bending and opening up of the elements occurs when the slider is operated in the other direction and at such time the elements 4 and 5 are disengaged and separated.

, Instead of forming the one side of the fastener as a coil spring, separate elements 21 such as shown in Fig. 5-may be used and assembled in'series on the edge of the part 3. These elements 21 are preferably formed with a. small, loop 22 so that they may be strung on a cord or the like for convenience in assembling and attaching and have the larger loop portion 23 with which the elements 4 interlock. This element 21 may, if desired, have the-opening 24 somewhat semicircular or be provided with a fiat side 25 with which the end of the element 4 engages to prevent relative turning movement of the elements 4 and 5.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles of my invention the scope of which is to be determined bythe appended claims.

I claimz '1. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of opposed-series of elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, said ele- '-ments of one series comprising adjoining loops and the elements of the other series comprising substantially flat plates with correspondingly ofi'set end portions adapted to 'be inserted between adjoining loops of the scribed, the combination of opposed series of fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, said elements of one series comprising successive loops and said elements of the other series comprising successive substantially flat plate members, each of said members having an offset at one side with a rear face and an inclined guide at the other side for guiding the outer portion of a loop of the other series of elements to a position behind the rear face of the offset of the adjoining member.

3. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of opposed series of fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, said elements of one series comprising successive loops and said elements of the other series comprising substantially flat plates which fit between the adjoining loop elements and terminate in offsets with rearwardly facing arcuate shoulderswhich engage with the inner faces of the outer portions of the corresponding loops of the other series of elements.

4:. In a fastening device of the class described, the oombination of a coiled spring having the successive coils spaced apart, a v

series of fastener elements and a slider operable along the colled spring and series of fastener elements for interlocking and re-' leasing the fastener elements and the coils of the spring, said fastener elements being formed at the outer ends with offset portions forming arcuate rearwardly facing shoulders for engaging the inner faces of the outer portions of the corresponding coils of the spring and said elements having inclined guides at the outer ends for guiding the coils of the spiral spring behind the shoulders of the adjoining elements. "f 5. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of a series of wire loops consisting of convolutions of a spring, a series of spaced elements, and a slider operable along the series of loops and spaced elements for interlocking and releasing same,

said elements being formed with corresponding inclined guides at the ends for guiding the loops in between the elements and each element having an offset portion at the side opposite the inclined guide of the adjoining element and restricting the space between the outer ends of the adjoining elements so as to lock the loop therebetween.

6. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of a'series of wire loops consisting of convolutions of a spring, a series of spaced elements, and a slider operable along the series of loops and spaced elements for interlocking and releasing same,

' said elements having corresponding substantially' inclined faces at their outerends for guiding the outer portions of the loops between the elementsand having corresponding off-set portions at the outer ends adapted of fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, one of said series of elements comprising spaced loop members and the elements of the other series comprising elongated flat members, each of which latter has a substantially semi-circular offset portion at the outer edge fitting within a loop member of the other series of elements.

8. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of opposed series of,fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, the elements of one series comprising members each of which has a pair of laterally spaced side portions and a cross portion at the front, and the elements ofthe other series each comprising a substantially flat plate adapted to fit between said cross portions of adjoining elements of the other series and said plates having ofl'set ends extending between the said laterally spaced portions of the other series of elements and engaging behind the said cross portions of the latter eiements.

9. In a fastening device of the class described, the combination of opposed series of fastener elements and a slider operable therealong for interlocking and releasing same, one of said series of elements comprising a plurality of plates and the other series of elements comprising a plurality of loops adapted to receive the plates therebetween, said plates being notched at their edges to afford clearance for lateral portions of the loops engaged therewith for permitting lateral bending of the interlocked elements and interlocking means on the plates for engagement with the loops.

' GEORGE BLAIR.

to enter within the corresponding loops close I to the inner extremity of the inclined face of the next adjoining element so as to restrict said space at the outer end and thereby lock the loop between the elements.

7 In a fastening device of the class de-.

scribed, the combination of opposed series 

